Foodies, Fashion, & Artisans; A Saint-Roch Neighbourhood Guide

Go on a Saint-Roch Beer Tour

The craft beer tour through Saint-Roch with Broue-Tours is one of the top walking tours in Quebec City. Led by passionate local guides, this tour offers insights into the neighbourhood history; with stops at some of the best microbreweries in Quebec City. The excitement begins at Noctem Artisans Brasseurs, then winds its way to La Barberie before ending at the fabulous La Koriganne. Three hours. Nine beers. One fun guide.

take a honey mead distillery tour (tasting included!)

Apikol in one of the coolest distilleries in Quebec City – and the only one making honey mead! There is a small tasting room, with views of a live working bee hive, and shelves filled with honey mead. The guided tour takes about an hour and takes you through the distillery in the back, then it’s time for a tasting. It’s a fascinating tour with an incredibly knowledgeable guide.

art, literature & relaxation at bibliothèque gabrielle-roy

This newly renovated library is one of the largest and most beautiful libraries in Quebec City. There are four floors to discover here; with stunning sculptures, intriguing reading spaces, communal workspaces, computers, and space for classes and meetings. It’s also home to the Archives of Quebec. It’s one of my favourite places to go when the cafés are busy, or when I am craving the smell of books and the allure of beautiful interior design. Bibliophiles will love this place!

relax in jardin jean-paul-l’allier

A beautiful urban park on rue du Parvis, near Boulevard Charest, Jardin Saint-Roch features a small waterfall, and busts of three pivotal Quebec painters: René Richard, Alfred Pellan and Horatio Walker. It’s a nice little spot to relax, enjoy a sunny day, and maybe a picnic too!

la place Boutique Gourmande

La Place is one of my favourite food shops in Quebec City; I’ve lost count of how many people I have sent to Saint-Roch to shop here. They have an amazing selection of Quebec wines and craft beers, and the staff give good recommendations. The shelves are filled with fancy foodstuffs, like Bret’s Chips (so many delicious gourmet flavours), charcuterie, seasonings, and more.

la boîte à pain

A boulangerie, café, and gourmet sandwich shop, La Boîte à Pain uses organic flours (no additives or chemicals). The glass display cases are filled with delicious pastries and small desserts. It’s a quiet spot for a lunch break while wandering around Saint-Roch.

épicerie économique

This small épicerie is what English Canada would call a convenience store. They sell a variety of snack foods, non-perishables, bread, milk, eggs etc. They sell beer too, and there is a small casse-croûte serving hot dogs, burgers, and poutine.

café pékoe

A café specializing in tea, Café Pékoe also serves coffee, pastries, and Bahn mì style sandwiches — the only thing Vietnamese about them are the pickled carrots and fresh baguette bread. Enjoy a pot of tea by the windows overlooking rue Saint-Joseph Est, or do a little work at a communal table.

maelstrøm saint-roch

During the day, the café is relaxed and quiet, a perfect spot for getting some work done while enjoying artisanal coffee (hot or cold) or a cup of chocolat chaud (hot chocolate). In the evening Mælstrøm’s vibe changes as locals arrive to enjoy draft beer or cocktails — some made with cold brew coffee.

nektar caféoloque

Open since 2009, Nektar is a popular café with digital nomads and students filing almost every table, sipping coffee or tea as they peck away on their laptops. Nektar carries coffee blends from Quebec, select blends from around Canada, and serves up a small selection of pastries.

saint-henri micro-torréfacteur

A new addition to Quebec City, Saint-Henri micro-torréfacteur hails from Montreal and has quickly become a favourite hang-out and workspace among locals in Quebec City. The specialty here is third-wave coffee; serving house-made blends. The gourmet donuts are made locally, and always fresh and delicious; the scones, chocolatines, and croissants are good too.

l’affaire est ketchup

One of a handful of micro-restaurants in Quebec City, l’Affaire est Ketchup is a popular spot among locals. The menu changes frequently and each dish is carefully crafted, generously portioned and affordably priced. If you’re a lover of sweetbreads, then this is one of the best places to go! l’Affaire est Ketchup is not a place to go if you are in a rush, this is where you come to savour every morsel, and soak up the restaurant’s jovial. The wine list here is excellent, so ask for recommendations.

bati bassac

Bati Bassac is one of the best restaurants in Quebec City for Cambodian cuisine. A neighbourhood staple for 19 years, this family-run restaurant serves incredible traditional Cambodian dishes (as well as a couple of Thai and Lao dishes). Try Amok (halibut steamed in banana leaves with Kroeung sauce and coconut milk), papaya salad, The Khmer (beef and vegetables stir-fried in a spicy lemongrass sauce), païlin rolls, and more.

birra & basta

Perched on the corner of rue Saint-Joseph Est and rue Monseigneur-Gauvreau. The ambiance is lively and the menu features traditional Italian dishes. Start with some Burrata cheese, and maybe some fig confit and coppa. Antipasti is perfect if you want to sample a few small plates, then perhaps some pizza, pasta, or al forno dishes.

bols et poké

Bols et Poké is small and bright, and the menu features healthy poké bowls packed with tasty flavours and textures. Every bowl has avocado, cucumber, and green onion. Ope is shrimp with a miso sauce and cabbage salad, and Ahi has marinated tuna with wafu sauce, pickled red onions and ginger. There are pokérittos, where poké and sushi rolls collide; and fancy avocado creations.

bottega

A new addition to Saint-Roch, Bottega opened a small Italian épicerie serving New York-style pizza slices in July 2024; then opened a small restaurant next door in November 2024. It’s a delicious little gem with pizza, pasta, and sandwiches on the menu. Personally, I’m a fan of the focaccia, mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwich. The tiramisu here is small but very good. Tip: If you’re on a tight budget, the lunch menu is reasonably priced.

chez gaston

Tucked in a quiet corner of Saint-Roch, Chez Gaston is a local favourite for cheap eats. One of the best casse-croûte poutines in Quebec City can be found here – which is served until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays (!!). The menu also includes snack bar classics like hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and pogos (corndogs). Chez Gaston is proof that delicious things can come from the smallest places.

Le clocher penché

Owned by brothers Thomas and François Pélissier and chef Mathieu Brisson, Le Clocher Penché is one of the most popular bistros in Saint-Roch. The menu features dishes like duck breast with parsnip, sweet potato and clavalier pepper sauce; and blood pudding with puff pastry, apple and caramel. Every dish is made with fresh local ingredients; the menu changes based on what is seasonally available. There is an excellent wine list too.

la cuisine

It’s a bistro and a bar, and when the sun goes down and the DJ takes over the entire space has a vibrant kitchen party vibe. The design is retro and the food is homemade, simple and delicious; the menu changes with the seasons. Try Québécois favourites like pâté chinois (shepherd’s pie), croque-monsieur, onion soup, and more. La Cuisine is like giving yourself a big comforting hug.

deux22

Deux22 is a clothing boutique, a tequila bar, and a Mexican restaurant – a delightfully quirky spot in Saint-Roch. It is one of the best restaurants in Quebec City for street-inspired Mexican eats. On the weekends, huevos rancheros and breakfast burritos are served from 11h to 15h, and the rest of the week the menu features fat burritos, packed tacos, quesadillas, Mexican pizza, enchiladas, and more. There is a decent selection of tequila and mezcal too.

district saint-joseph

District Saint-Joseph is a restaurant, bar, and live music venue in the heart of Saint-Roch. On the menu; pasta dishes, pizza, tartare, burgers and small bites. Live bands play every Thursday, and DJs take over on Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant’s proximity to Impérial Bell makes it a great place to grab a meal before going to a concert.

nina pizza napolitaine

Nina Pizza Napolitaine has been a neighbourhood favourite since its opening in 2014. The pizza oven was imported from Sicily, and the owners learned their pizza-making skills from a pizzaiolo in New York City. Every pizza here is delicious (and foldable if that is your preferred pizza-eating style). When available, the burrata is an excellent choice too. There is a second location in the neighbourhood of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, on rue Saint-Jean.

ogari san

Ogari San is a small no-frills chirashi bowl spot near Saint-Henri Café. While chirashi bowls look similar to poké, chirashi incorporates more complex flavours. All bowls come with a base of avocado, cucumber, carrot, daikon, edamame, and green onion. The classic chirashi is topped with salmon tartare and gravlax; there’s one with bulgogi beef and another with teriyaki tofu.

phil smoked meat

No need to go to Montreal for delicious smoked meat sandwiches when you can go to Phil Smoked Meat in Saint-Roch. The sandwiches here are piled high with smoked meat and come with a pickle on the side. The menu here also includes smoked meat submarine sandwiches, pizza, salad, and spaghetti.

poutineville

There is no shortage of restaurants serving up poutine in Saint-Roch. Poutineville is a Quebec poutine chain. Choose from a wide variety of gourmet poutines (gyro poutine pictured above), and make sure you’re hungry as the portions are quite big! The menu also features burgers, sandwiches, subs, and salads.

tora-ya ramen

A local favourite, it’s common to see a line of people waiting at Tora-Ya Ramen in Saint-Roch. It’s a small family-owned Japanese restaurant, where umami-packed ramen is the star. Choose chicken or pork broth; the ramen with soy sauce is good, but the ones with miso are the best – in my opinion. Small plates include edamame, gyoza, kimchi, and wafu salad.

torii izakaya

Torii Izakaya is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Quebec City; great for dining with friends who love to dine family-style. The menu is comprised of small plates: dumplings (think boudin, duck confit, pork with sesame and lemongrass), karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and bok choy salad; to name a few. Torii Izakaya’s saké selection is quite good; the cocktails as well.

déja vu

A delightful recycled furniture store, Déja Vu is one of the best places for brightly coloured retro furniture pieces (circa 1930-1980) and knick-knacks in Quebec City. New pieces arrive regularly. I love this vintage shop, there are always new treasures to discover – and I’ve learned that if I love something, I better buy it immediately because some items sell quickly.

Le Knock Out!

A funky little record shop close to Café Saint-Henri torrèfacteur, Le Knock-Out is where music lovers buy hard-to-find records, EPs, and cassettes. The shop is small, but there is enough room at the back for a small stage for musical performances by local artists.

champagne chocolatier

A small boutique chocolatier and pâtisserie, Champagne Chocolatier has been making artisanal chocolates for over 15 years. Select from 4-piece to 24-piece boxes of chocolate or create your own; there are also chocolate roses, chocolate-covered marshmallows, cherry blossoms, and more. It may be best to shop here after eating (ha!).

fanamanga

Fanamanga is a Japanese boutique selling manga, Korean skincare, and K-pop goodies; there’s also a small food counter with onigiri, bento boxes and bubble tea. It’s a great boutique for finding treasures from Japan.

jjacques

JJacques is a chic speakeasy and oyster bar; number 16 in Canada’s 100 Best Bars list. The door is in an alley near Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy and the Royal William Hotel. It’s a cozy spot with intimate seating, and a long bar (my favourite place to sit). The cocktails are superb, as is the wine list. There is a small menu with everything from caviar and foie gras to butterfish tataki and seafood towers.

le bureau de poste

A go-to spot in Saint-Roch for those on a tight budget, Le Bureau de Poste is committed to serving affordable cocktails and beers. The food menu features everything from burgers and nachos to tacos, pasta, and poutine – all under 12 CAD each. In summer and autumn sit on the patio to enjoy a little sunshine and people-watching. It’s a great pub.

london jack

A new addition to Saint-Roch, London Jack is a lively English pub well known for its impressive gin collection, and delicious fish & chips – likely the BEST in Quebec City! The pub is cozy with a large bar, Union Jack flags painted on part of the ceiling and a menu featuring English and French foods. If fish & chips are not your thing, try the bangers n’mash or Sunday roast.

korrigane brasserie artisanale

La Korrigane Brasserie Artisanale is a woman-owned microbrewery specializing in beers made with ingredients grown in Quebec. Nine beers are brewed here, and a flight of 5 beers is 18.50 CAD – a great reason to dive in. The menu is as good as the beer, with poutines, chicken wings (the best I’ve had in Quebec City), burgers, fish n’chips, and more. Check their website for upcoming events.

la barberie

Since opening in 1997, La Barberie has been a local favourite for craft beer. It’s a no-frills microbrewery with a large patio in summer; and a stop on guided beer tours through the city. There are 17 beers on tap, and 27 different beers available in cans. La Barberie also has a food menu now. There are pub favourites; nachos, hot dogs, poutine, etc. Some dishes can be made vegetarian on request.

noctem artisans brasseurs

Many of the beers at Noctem have cat-themed names, but you won’t find any cats roaming around (haha).

serves several beers that are brewed in-house, as well as a small selection of beers crafted at other micro-breweries in Quebec. Similar to La Korrigane Brasserie Artisanale, the menu at Noctem offers delicious comfort foods in petite faim and grosse faim sizes (hungry and bigger hunger).

théâtre de la bordée

A charming théâtre, La Bordée is home to musical performances, contemporary dramas, and the Quebec City Film Festival. There is always something happening at La Bordée, and while all performances are in French, it’s always a good idea – and a great way to practice your French!

royal William hotel

The *new* Royal William Hotel is open and absolutely gorgeous. A well-known address in Saint-Roch, this boutique hotel has 47 rooms, a gym, a laundry room, and an Italian restaurant (MILA). The rooms are spacious, with vaulted ceilings and surprisingly comfortable beds. Some come with a small kitchenette, and all of them have city views.

hôtel pur

Looking for a hotel located in the heart of Saint-Roch, Quebec City? Hotel PUR, Quebec, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel is modern-contemporary in style with good-sized rooms (some with views of Église Saint-Roch), an indoor pool, a gym, and a restaurant. The lobby is a relaxing place to hang out, read, and play pool; and the guys working the door are a great source of neighbourhood tips. This is a dog-friendly hotel.